Chapter C · hap"ter, v. t. (continued 12)

CONSERVANT Con*serv"ant, a. Etym: [L. conservans, p.pr.]

Defn: Having the power or quality of conservation.

CONSERVATION Con`ser*va"tion, n. Etym: [L. conservatio: cf. F. conservation.]

Defn: The act of preserving, guarding, or protecting; the keeping (of a thing) in a safe or entire state; preservation. A step necessary for the conservation of Protestantism. Hallam. A state without the means of some change is without the means of its conservation. Burke. Conservation of areas (Astron.), the principle that the radius vector drawn from a planet to the sun sweeps over equal areas in equal times. — Conservation of energy, or Conservation of force (Mech.), the principle that the total energy of any material system is a quantity which can neither be increased nor diminished by any action between the parts of the system, though it may be transformed into any of the forms of which energy is susceptible. Clerk Maxwell.

CONSERVATIONAL Con`ser*va"tion*al, a.

Defn: Tending to conserve; preservative.

CONSERVATISM Con*serv"a*tism, n. Etym: [For conservatism.]

Defn: The disposition and tendency to preserve what is established; opposition to change; the habit of mind; or conduct, of a conservative.

CONSERVATIVE Con*serv"a*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conservatif.]

1. Having power to preserve in a safe of entire state, or from loss, waste, or injury; preservative.

2. Tending or disposed to maintain existing institutions; opposed to change or innovation.

3. Of or pertaining to a political party which favors the conservation of existing institutions and forms of government as the Conservative party in england; — contradistinguished from Liberal and Radical. We have always been conscientuously attached to what is called the Tory, and which might with more propierty be called the Conservative, party. Quart. Rev. (1830). Conservative system (Mech.), a material sustem of such a nature that after the system has undergone any series of changes, and been brought back in any manner to its original state, the whole work done by external agents on the system is equal to the whole work done by the system overcoming external forces. Clerk Maxwell.

CONSERVATIVE Con*serv"a*tive, n.

1. One who, or that which, preserves from ruin, injury, innovation, or radical change; a preserver; a conserver. The Holy Spirit is the great conservative of the new life. Jer. Taylor.

2. One who desires to maintain existing institutions and customs; also, one who holds moderate opinions in politics; — opposed to revolutionary or radical.

3. (Eng. Hist.)

Defn: A member of the Conservative party.

CONSERVATIVENESS Con*serv"a*tive*ness, a.

Defn: The quality of being conservative.

CONSERVATOIRE Con`ser"va*toire`, n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A public place of instruction in any special branch, esp. music and the arts. [See Conservatory, 3].

CONSERVATOR Con"ser*va`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. conservateur.]

1. One who preserves from injury or violation; a protector; a preserver. The great Creator and Conservator of the world. Derham.

2. (Law) (a) An officer who has charge of preserving the public peace, as a justice or sheriff. (b) One who has an official charge of preserving the rights and privileges of a city, corporation, community, or estate. The lords of the secret council were likewise made conservators of the peace of the two kingdoms. Clarendon. The conservator of the estate of an idiot. Bouvier. Conservators of the River Thames, a board of comissioners instituted by Parliament to have the conservancy of the Thames.

CONSERVATORY Con*serv"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. conservatoire, LL. conservatorius.]

Defn: Having the quality of preserving from loss, decay, or injury.

CONSERVATORY Con*serv"a*to*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. F. conservatoire, LL. conservatorium.]

1. That which preserves from injury. [Obs.] "A conservatory of life." Jer. Taylor.

2. A place for preserving anything from loss, decay, waste, or injury; particulary, a greenhouse for preserving exotic or tender plants.

3. A public place of instruction, designed to preserve and perfect the knowledge of some branch of science or art, esp. music.

CONSERVATRIX Con`ser*va"trix, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: A woman who preserves from loss, injury, etc.

CONSERVE Con*serve", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Conserved; p.pr. & vb.n. Conserving.] Etym: [F. conserver, L. conservare; con- + servare to keep, guard. See Serve.]

1. To keep in a safe or sound state; to save; to preserve; to protect. The amity which . . . they meant to conserve and maintain with the emperor. Strype.

2. To prepare with sugar, etc., for the purpose of preservation, as fruits, etc.; to make a conserve of.

CONSERVE Con"serve, n. Etym: [F. conserve, fr. conserver.]

1. Anything which is conserved; especially, a sweetmeat prepared with sugar; a confection. I shall . . . study broths, plasters, and conserves, till from a fine lady I become a notable woman. Tatler.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A medicinal confection made of freshly gathered vegetable substances mixed with finely powdered refined sugar. See Confection.

3. A conservatory. [Obs.] Evelyn.

CONSERVER Con*serv"er, n.

Defn: One who conserves.

CONSIDER Con*sid"er, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Considered; p.pr. & vb.n. Considering.] Etym: [F. considérer, L. considerare, -sideratum, to consider, view attentively, prob. fr. con- + sidus, sideris, star, constellation; orig., therefore, to look at the stars. See Sidereal, and cf. Desire.]

1. To fix the mind on, with a view to a careful examination; to thank on with care; to ponder; to study; to meditate on. I will consider thy testimonies. Ps. cxix. 95. Thenceforth to speculations high or deep I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind Considered all things visible. Milton.

2. To look at attentively; to observe; to examine. She considereth a field, and buyeth it. Prov. xxxi. 16.

3. To have regard to; to take into view or account; to pay due attention to; to respect. Consider, sir, the chance of war: the day Was yours by accident. Shak. England could grow into a posture of being more united at home, and more considered abroad. Sir W. Temple.

4. To estamate; to think; to regard; to view. Considered as plays, his works are absurd. Macaulay.

Note: The proper sense of consider is often blended with an idea of the result of considering; as, "Blessed is he that considereth the poor." Ps. xli. 1. ; i.e., considers with sympathy and pity. "Which [services] if I have not enough considered." Shak. ; i.e., requited as the sufficient considering of them would suggest. "Consider him liberally." J. Hooker.

Syn. — To ponder; weigh; revolve; study; reflect or meditate on; contemplate; examine. See Ponder.

CONSIDER Con*sid"er, v. i.

1. To think seriously; to make examination; to reflect; to deliberate. We will consider of your suit. Shak. 'T were to consider too curiously, to consider so. Shak. She wished she had taken a moment to consider, before rushing down stairs. W. Black

2. To hesitate. [Poetic & R.] Dryden.

CONSIDERABLE Con*sid"er*a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. considérable.]

1. Worthy of consideration, borne in mind, or attended to. It is considerable, that some urns have had inscriptions on them expressing that the lamps were burning. Bp. Wilkins. Eternity is infinitely the most considerable duration. Tillotson.

2. Of some distinction; noteworthy; influential; respectable; — said of persons. You are, indeed, a very considerable man. Junius.

3. Of importance or value. In painting, not every action, nor every person, is considerable enough to enter into the cloth. Dryden. A considerable sum of money. Prescott.

CONSIDERABLENESS Con*sid"er*a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: Worthiness of consideration; dignity; value; size; amount.

CONSIDERABLY Con*sid"er*a*bly, adv.

Defn: In a manner or to a degree not trifling or unimportant; greatly; much. The breeds . . . differ considerably from each other. Darwin.

CONSIDERANCE Con*sid"er*ance, n. Etym: [L. considerantia.]

Defn: Act of considering; consideration. [Obs.] Shak.

CONSIDERATE Con*sid"er*ate, a. Etym: [L. consideratus, p.p.]

1. Given to consideration or to sober reflection; regardful of consequences or circumstances; circumspect; careful; esp. careful of the rights, claims, and feelings of other. Of dauntless courage and considerate pride. Milton. considerate, and careful of his people. Dryden. The wisest and most considerate men in the world. Sharp.

2. Having respect to; regardful. [R.] They may be . . . more considerate of praise. Dr. H. More.

Syn. — Thoughtful; reflective; careful; discreet; prudent; deliberate; serious. See Thoughtful. — Con*sid"er*ate*ly, adv. — Con*sid"er*ate*ness, n.

CONSIDERATION Con*sid`er*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. consideratio: cf. F. consid.]

1. The act or process of considering; continuous careful thought; examination; contemplation; deliberation; attention. Let us think with consideration. Sir P. Sidney. Consideration, like an angel, came. Shak.

2. Attentive respect; appreciative regard; — used especially in diplomatic or stately correspondence. The undersigned has the honor to repeat to Mr. Hulseman the assurance of his high consideration. D. Webster. The consideration with which he was treated. Whewell.

3. Thoughtful or sympathetic regard or notice. Consideration for the poor is a doctrine of the church. Newman.

4. Claim to notice or regard; some degree of importance or consequence. Lucan is the only author of consideration among the Latin poets who was not explained for . . . the Dauphin. Addison.

5. The result of delibration, or of attention and examonation; matured opinion; a reflection; as, considerations on the choice of a profession.

6. That which is, or should be, taken into account as a ground of opinion or action; motive; reason. He was obliged, antecedent to all other considerations, to search an asylum. Dryden. Some considerations which are necessary to the forming of a correct judgment. Macaulay.

7. (Law)

Defn: The cause which moves a contracting party to enter into an agreement; the material cause of a contract; the price of a stripulation; compensation; equivalent. Bouvier.

Note: Consideration is what is done, or promised to be done, in exchange for a promise, and "as a mere advantage to the promisor without detriment to the promisee would not avail, the proper test is detriment to the promisee." Wharton.

CONSIDERATIVE Con*sid"er*a*tive, a.

Defn: Considerate; careful; thoughtful. [Archaic] I love to be considerative. B. Jonson.

CONSIDERATOR Con*sid"er*a`tor, n.

Defn: One who considers. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

CONSIDERER Con*sid"er*er, n.

Defn: One who considers; a man of reflection; a thinker. Milton.

CONSIDERINGLY Con*sid"er*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: With consideration or deliberation.

CONSIGN Con*sign", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consigned 3; p.pr. & vb.n. Consigning.] Etym: [F. consigner, L. consignare, -signatu,, to seal or sign; con- + signare, fr. signum mark. See Sign.]

1. To give, transfer, or deliver, in a formal manner, as if by signing over into the possession of another, or into a different state, with the sense of fixedness in that state, or permanence of possession; as, to consign the body to the grave. At the day of general account, good men are to be consigned over to another state. Atterbury.

2. To give in charge; to commit; to intrust. Atrides, parting for the Trojan war, Consigned the youthful consort to his care. Pope. The four evangelists consigned to writing that history. Addison.

3. (Com.)

Defn: To send or address (by bill of lading or otherwise) to an agent or correspondent in another place, to be cared for or sold, or for the use of such correspondent; as, to cosign a cargo or a ship; to set apart.

4. To assign; to devote; to set apart. The French commander consigned it to the use for which it was intended by the donor. Dryden.

5. To stamp or impress; to affect. [Obs.] Consign my spirit with great fear. Jer. Taylor.

Syn. — To commit; deliver; intrust; resign. See Commit.

CONSIGN Con*sign", v. i.

1. To submit; to surrender or yield one's self. [Obs.] All lovers young, all lovers must Consign to thee, and come to dust. Shak.

2. To yield consent; to agree; to acquiesce. [Obs.] Augment or alter . . . And we'll consign thereto. Shak.

CONSIGNATARY Con*sig"na*ta*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. Consignitary.]

Defn: A consignee. [Obs.] Jenkins.

CONSIGNATION Con`sig*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. consignatio written proof, document: cf. F. consignation comsignation.]

1. The act of consigning; the act of delivering or committing to another person, place, or state. [Obs.] So is despair a certain consignation to eternal ruin. Jer. Taylor.

2. The act of ratifying or establishing, as if signing; confirmation; ratuficator. A direct consignation of pardon. Jer. Taylor.

3. A stamp; an indication; a sign. [Obs.] The most certain consignations of an excellent virtue. Jer. Taylor.

CONSIGNATORY Con*sig"na*to*ry, n. Etym: [Cf. Consignitary.]

Defn: One of several that jointly sign a written instrument, as a treaty. Fallows.

CONSIGNATURE Con*sig"na*ture; 135), n.

Defn: Joint signature. [R.] Colgrave.

CONSIGNE Con"signe, n. Etym: [F.] (Mil.) (a) A countersign; a watchword. (b) One who is orders to keep within certain limits.

CONSIGNEE Con`sign*ee", n. Etym: [F. consign, p.p. of consigner.]

Defn: The person to whom goods or other things are consigned; a factor; — correlative to consignor. Consigner and consignee are used by merchants to express generally the shipper of merchandise, and the person to whom it is addressed, by bill of lading or otherwise. De Colange.

CONSIGNER Con*sign"er, n.

Defn: One who consigns. See Consignor.

CONSIGNIFICANT Con`sig*nif"i*cant, a.

Defn: Having joint or equal signification; synonymous. [R.] Spelman.

CONSIGNIFICATION Con*sig`ni*fi*ca"tion, n.

Defn: Joint signification. [R.]

CONSIGNIFICATIVE Con`sig*nif"i*ca*tive, a.

Defn: Consignificant; jointly significate. [R.]

CONSIGNIFY Con*sig"ni*fy, v. t. Etym: [Pref. con- + sognify.]

Defn: To signify or denote in combination with something else. The cipher . . . only serves to connote and consignify, and to change the value or the figures. Horne Tooke.

CONSIGNMENT Con*sign"ment, n.

1. The act of consigning; consignation.

2. (Com.)

Defn: The act of consigning or sending property to an agent or correspondent in another place, as for care, sale, etc.

3. (Com.)

Defn: That which is consigned; the goods or commodities sent or addressed to a consignee at one time or by one conveyance. To increase your consignments of this valuable branch of national commerce. Burke.

4. The writing by which anything is consigned.

CONSIGNOR Con*sign"or ( or , n.

Defn: One who consigns something to another; — opposed to consignee. [Written also consigner.]

CONSILIENCE Con*sil"i*ence, n. Etym: [con- + salire to leap.]

Defn: Act of concurring; coincidence; concurrence. The consilience of inductions takes place when one class of facts coincides with an induction obtained from another different class. Whewell.

CONSIMILITUDE; CONSIMILITY Con`si*mil"i*tude, Con`si*mil"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. consimilitude. See Similitude.]

Defn: Common resemblance. [Obs.] Aubrey.

CONSIST Con*sist", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Consisted; p.pr. & vb.n. Consisting.] Etym: [L. consistere to stand still or firm; con- + sistere to stand, cause to stand, stare to stand: cf. F. consister. See Stand.]

1. To stand firm; to be in a fixed or permanent state, as a body composed of parts in union or connection; to hold together; to be; to exist; to subsist; to be supported and maintained. He is before all things, and by him all things consist. Col. i. 17.

2. To be composed or made up; — followed by of. The land would consist of plains and valleys. T. Burnet.

3. To have as its substance or character, or as its foundation; to be; — followed by in. If their purgation did consist in words. Shak. A man's life consisteth not in the abudance of the things which he possesseth. Luke xii. 15.

4. To be cosistent or harmonious; to be in accordance; — formerly used absolutely, now followed by with. This was a consisting story. Bp. Burnet. Health consists with temperance alone. Pope. For orders and degrees Jar not with liberty, but well consist. Milton.

5. To insist; — followed by on. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. — To Consist, Consist of, Consist in. The verb consist is employed chiefly for two purposes, which are marked and distinguished by the prepositions used. When we wish to indicate the parts which unite to compose a thing, we use of; as when we say, "Macaulay's Miscellanies consist chiefly of articles which were first published in the Edinburgh Review." When we wish to indicate the true nature of a thing, or that on which it depends, we use in; as, "There are some artists whose skill consists in a certain manner which they have affected." "Our safety consists in a strict adherence to duty."

CONSISTENCE; CONSISTENCY Con*sist"ence, Con*sist"en*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. consistance.]

1. The condition of standing or adhering together, or being fixed in union, as the parts of a body; existence; firmness; coherence; solidity. Water, being divided, maketh many circles, till it restore itself to the natural consistence. Bacon. We are as water, weak, and of no consistence. Jer. Taylor. The same form, substance, and consistency. T. Burned.

2. A degree of firmness, density, or spissitude. Let the expressed juices be boiled into the consistence of a sirup. Arbuthnot.

3. That which stands together as a united whole; a combination. The church of God, as meaning whole consistence of orders and members. Milton.

4. Firmness of constitution or character; substantiality; durability; persistency. His friendship is of a noble make and a lasting consistency. South.

5. Agreement or harmony of all parts of a complex thing among themselves, or of the same thing with itself at different times; the harmony of conduct with profession; congruity; correspondence; as, the consistency of laws, regulations, or judicial decisions; consistency of opinions; consistency of conduct or of character. That consistency of behavior whereby he inflexibly pursues those measures which appear the most just. Addison. Consistency, thou art a jewel. Popular Saying.

CONSISTENT Con*sist"ent, a. Etym: [L. consistens, p.pr.: cf. F. consistant.]

1. Possessing firmness or fixedness; firm; hard; solid. The humoral and consistent parts of the body. Harvey.

2. Having agreement with itself or with something else; having harmony among its parts; possesing unity; accordant; harmonious; congruous; compatible; uniform; not contradictory. Show me one that has it in his power To act consistent with himself an hour. Pope. With reference to such a lord, to serve and to be free are terms not consistent only, but equivalent. South.

3. Living or acting in conformity with one's belief or professions. It was utterly to be at once a consistent Quaker and a conspirator. Macaulay.

CONSISTENTLY Con*sist"ent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a consistent manner.

CONSISTORIAL Con`sis*to"ri*al, a. Etym: [Cf. F. consistorial.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a consistory. "Consistorial laws." Hooker. "Consistorial courts." Bp. Hoadley.

CONSISTORIAN Con`sis*to"rian, a.

Defn: Pertaining to a Presbyterian consistory; — a contemptuous term of 17th century controversy. You fall next on the consistorian schismatics; for so you call Presbyterians. Milton.

CONSISTORY Con*sis"to*ry ( or ; 277) n.; pl. Consistories. Etym: [L. consistorium a place of assembly, the place where the emperor's council met, fr. consistere: cf. F. consistoire, It. consistorio. See Consist.]

1. Primarily, a place of standing or staying together; hence, any solemn assembly or council. To council summons all his mighty peers, Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved, A gloomy consistory. Milton.

2. (Eng. Ch.)

Defn: The spiritual court of a diocesan bishop held before his chancellor or commissioner in his cathedral church or elsewhere. Hook.

3. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: An assembly of prelates; a session of the college of cardinals at Rome. Pius was then hearing of causes in consistory. Bacon.

4. A church tribunal or governing body.

Note: In some churches, as the Dutch Reformed in America, a consistory is composed of the minister and elders of an individual church, corresponding to a Presbyterian church session, and in others, as the Reformed church in France, it is composed of ministers and elders, corresponding to a presbytery. In some Lutheran countries it is a body of clerical and lay officers appointed by the sovereign to superintend ecclesiastical affairs.

5. A civil court of justice. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CONSISTORY Con*sis"to*ry, a.

Defn: Of the nature of, or pertaining to, a consistory. "To hold consistory session." Strype.

CONSOCIATE Con*so"ci*ate, n. Etym: [L. nsociatus, p.p. of consociare to associate, unite; con- + sociare to join, unite. See Social.]

Defn: An associate; an accomplice. [Archaic] "Wicked consociates." Bp. Hall.

CONSOCIATE Con*so"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consociated; p.pr. & vb.n. Consociating.]

1. To bring into alliance, confederacy, or relationship; to bring together; to join; to unite. [R.] Join pole to pole, consociate severed worlds. Mallet.

2. To unite in an ecclesiastical consociation. [U.S.]

CONSOCIATE Con*so"ci*ate, v. i.

1. To be allied, confederated, or associated; to coalescence. [R.] Bentley.

2. To form an ecclesiastical consociation. [U.S.]

CONSOCIATION Con*so`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. consociatio.]

1. Intimate union; fellowship; alliance; companionship; confederation; association; intimacy. A friendly consociation with your kindred elements. Warburton.

2. A voluntary and permanent council or union of neighboring Congregational churches, for mutual advice and co

Note: In Connecticut some of the Congregational churhes are associated in consociations and the others in conferences.

CONSOCIATIONAL Con*so`ci*a"tion*al, a.

Defn: Of or pertaining to a consociation. [U.S.]

CONSOL Con*sol", n.

Defn: A consolidated annuity (see Consols); — chiefly in combination or attributively.

CONSOLABLE Con*sol"a*ble, a. Etym: [L. consolabilis: cf. F. consolable.]

Defn: Capable of receiving consolation.

CONSOLATE Con"so*late, v. t. Etym: [L. consolatus, p.p. See Console, v. t.]

Defn: To console; to comfort. [Obs.] Shak.

CONSOLATION Con`so*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. consolatio: cf. F. consolation.]

Defn: The act of consoling; the state of being consoled; allevation of misery or distress of mind; refreshment of spirit; comfort; that which consoles or comforts the spirit. Against such cruelties With inward consolations recompensed. Milton. Are the consolations of God small with thee Job xv. 11.

Syn. — Comfort; solace; allevation. See Comfort.

CONSOLATION GAME; CONSOLATION MATCH; CONSOLATION POT; CONSOLATION RACE Con`so*la"tion game, match, pot, race, etc.

Defn: A game, match, etc., open only to losers in early stages of contests.

CONSOLATO DEL MARE Con`so*la"to del ma"re. Etym: [It., the consulate of the sea.]

Defn: A collection of maritime laws of disputed origin, supposed to have been first published at Barcelona early in the 14th century. It has formed the basis of most of the subsequent collections of maritime laws. Kent. Bouvier.

CONSOLATOR Con"so*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who consoles or comforts. Johnson.

CONSOLATORY Con*sol"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. consolatorius.]

Defn: Of a consoling or comforting nature. The punishment of tyrants is a noble and awful act of justice; and it has with truth been said to be consolatory to the human mind. Burke.

CONSOLATORY Con*sol"a*to*ry, n.

Defn: That which consoles; a speech or writing intended for consolation. [R.] Milton.

CONSOLE Con*sole", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consoled; p.pr. & vb.n. Consoling.] Etym: [L. consolari,. p.p. consolatus; con- + solari to console, comfort: cf. F. consoler. See Solace.]

Defn: To cheer in distress or depression; to alleviate the grief and raise the spirits of; to relieve; to comfort; to soothe. And empty heads console with empty sound. Pope. I am much consoled by the reflection that the religion of Christ has been attacked in vain by all the wits and philosophers, and its triumph has been complete. P. Henry.

Syn. — To comfort; solace; soothe; cheer; sustain; encourage; support. See Comfort.

CONSOLE Con"sole, n. Etym: [F.] (Arch.) (a) A bracket whose projection is not more than half its height. (b) Any small bracket; also, a console table. Console table, a table whose top is supported by two or more consoles instead of legs.

CONSOLER Con*sol"er, n.

Defn: One who gives consolation.

CONSOLIDANT Con*sol"i*dant, a. Etym: [L. consolidans, p.pr. of consolidare: cf. F. consolidant.]

Defn: Serving to unite or consolidate; having the quality of consolidating or making firm.

CONSOLIDATE Con*sol"i*date, a. Etym: [L. consolidatus, p.pr. of consolidare to make firm; con- + solidare to make firm; solidus solid. See Solid, and cf. Consound.]

Defn: Formed into a solid mass; made firm; consolidated. [R.] A gentleman [should learn to ride] while he is tender and the brawns and sinews of his thighs not fully consolidate. Elyot.

CONSOLIDATE Con*sol"i*date, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consolidated; p.pr. & vb.n. Consolidating.]

1. To make solid; to unite or press together into a compact mass; to harden or make dense and firm. He fixed and consolidated the earth. T. Burnet.

2. To unite, as various particulars, into one mass or body; to bring together in close union; to combine; as, to consolidate the armies of the republic. Consolidating numbers into unity. Wordsworth.

3. (Surg.)

Defn: To unite by means of applications, as the parts of a broken bone, or the lips of a wound. [R.]

Syn. — To unite; combine; harden; compact; condense; compress.

CONSOLIDATE Con*sol"i*date, v. i.

Defn: To grow firm and hard; to unite and become solid; as, moist clay consolidates by drying. In hurts and ulcers of the head, dryness maketh them more apt to consolidate. Bacon.

CONSOLIDATED Con*sol"i*da`ted, p.p. & a.

1. Made solid, hard, or compact; united; joined; solidified. The Aggregate Fund . . . consisted of a great variety of taxes and surpluses of taxes and duties which were [in 1715] consolidated. Rees. A mass of partially consolidated mud. Tyndall.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Having a small surface in proportion to bulk, as in the cactus. Consolidated plants are evidently adapted and designed for very dry regions; in such only they are found. Gray. The Consolidated Fund, a British fund formed by consolidating (in 1787) three public funds (the Aggregate Fund, the General Fund, and the South Sea Fund). In 1816, the larger part of the revenues of Great Britian and Ireland was assigned to what has been known as the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, out of which are paid the interest of the national debt, the salaries of the civil list, etc.

CONSOLIDATION Con*sol`i*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. consolidatio a confirming: cf. F. consolidation.]

1. The act or process of consolidating, making firm, or uniting; the state of being consolidated; solidification; combination. The consolidation of the marble and of the stone did not fall out at random. Woodward. The consolidation of the great European monarchies. Hallam.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: To organic cohesion of different circled in a flower; adnation.

3. (Law)

Defn: The combination of several actions into one.

CONSOLIDATIVE Con*sol"i*da*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. consolidatif.]

Defn: Tending or having power to consolidate; healing.

CONSOLING Con*sol"ing, a.

Defn: Adapted to console or comfort; cheering; as, this is consoling news.

CONSOLS Con"sols ( or , n. pl. Etym: [A contraction of consolidated (annuities).]

Defn: The leading British funded government security.

Note: A considerable part of the public debt of Great Britian, which had been contracted in the form of annuities yielding various rates of interest, was, in 1757, consolidated into one fund at 3 per cent interest, the account of which is kept at the Bank of England. This debt has been diminished and increased at different times, and now constitutes somewhat more than half of the entire national debt. The stocks are transferable, and Their value in the market constantly fluctuates; the price at any time being regarded as a gauge of the national prosperity and public confidence.

CONSOMME Con`som`me, n. Etym: [F., lit. p.p. of consommer to finish.] (Cookery)

Defn: A clear soup or bouillion boiled down so as to be very rich.

CONSONANCE; CONSONANCY Con"so*nance, Con"so*nan*cy, n. Etym: [L. consonantia: cf. F. consonnance.]

1. (Mus.)

Defn: Accord or agreement of sounds produced simultaneously, as a note with its third, fifth, and eighth.

2. Agreement or congruity; harmony; accord; consistency; suitableness. The perfect consonancy of our persecuted church to the doctrines of Scripture and antiquity. Hammond. The optic nerve responds to the waves with which it is in consonance. Tyndall.

3. Friendship; concord. [Obs.] By the consonancy of our youth. Shak.

Syn. — Agreement; accord; consistency; unison; harmony; congruity; suitableness; agreeableness.

CONSONANT Con"so*nant, a. Etym: [L. consonans, -antis; p.pr. of consonare to sound at the same time, agree; con- + sonare to sound: cf. F. consonnant. See Sound to make a noise.]

1. Having agreement; congruous; consistent; according; — usually followed by with or to. Each one pretends that his opinion . . . is consonant to the words there used. Bp. Beveridge. That where much is given shall be much required is a thing consonant with natural equity. Dr. H. More.

2. Having like sounds. Consonant words and syllables. Howell.

3. (Mus.)

Defn: harmonizing together; accordant; as, consonant tones, consonant chords.

4. Of or pertaining to consonants; made up of, or containing many, consonants. No Russian whose dissonant consonant name Almost shatters to fragments the trumpet of fame. T. Moore.

CONSONANT Con"so*nant, n. Etym: [L. consonans, -antis.]

Defn: An articulate sound which in utterance is usually combined and sounded with an open sound called a vowel; a member of the spoken alphabet other than a vowel; also, a letter or character representing such a sound.

Note: Consonants are divided into various classes, as mutes, spirants, sibilants, nasals, semivowels, etc. All of them are sounds uttered through a closer position of the organs than that of a vowel proper, although the most open of them, as the semivowels and nasals, are capable of being used as if vowels, and forming syllables with other closer consonants, as in the English feeble (taken (

Note: "A consonant is the result of audible friction, squeezing, or stopping of the breath in some part of the mouth (or occasionally of the throath.) The main distinction between vowels and consonants is, that while in the former the mouth configuration merely modifies the vocalized breath, which is therefore an essential element of the vowels, in consonants the narrowing or stopping of the oral passage is the foundation of the sound, and the state of the glottis is something secondary." H. Sweet.

CONSONANTAL Con`so*nan"tal

Defn: ,

CONSONANTIZE Con"so*nant*ize, v. t.

Defn: To change into, or use as, a consonant. "The vowel is consonantized, that is, made closer in position." Peile.

CONSONANTLY Con"so*nant*ly, adv.

Defn: In a consonant, consistent, or congruous manner; agreeably.

CONSONANTNESS Con"so*nant*ness, n.

Defn: The quality or condition of being consonant, agreeable, or consistent.

CONSONOUS Con"so*nous, a. Etym: [L. consonus. See Consonant.]

Defn: Agreeing in sound; symphonious.

CONSOPIATION Con*so`pi*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act of sleeping, or of lulling, to sleep. [Obs.] Pope.

CONSOPITE Con"so*pite, a. Etym: [L. consopitus, p.p. of consopire.]

Defn: Lulled to sleep. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

CONSOPITE Con"so*pite, v. t.

Defn: To lull to sleep; to quiet; to compose. [Obs.] The operation of the masculine faculties of the soul were, for a while, well slacked and consopited. Dr. H. More.

CONSORT Con"sort, n. Etym: [L. consore, -sortis; con- + sors lot, fate, share. See Sort.]

1. One who shares the lot of another; a companion; a partner; especially, a wife or husband. Milton. He single chose to live, and shunned to wed, Well pleased to want a consort of his bed. Dryden. The consort of the queen has passed from this troubled sphere. Thakeray. The snow-white gander, invariably accompanied by his darker consort. Darwin.

2. (Naut.)

Defn: A ship keeping company with another.

3. Concurrence; conjunction; combination; association; union. "By Heaven's consort." Fuller. "Working in consort." Hare. Take it singly, and is carries an air of levity; but, in consort with the rest, has a meaning quite different. Atterbury.

4. Etym: [LL. consortium.]

Defn: An assembly or association of persons; a company; a group; a combination. [Obs.] In one consort there sat Cruel revenge and rancorious despite, Disloyal treason, and heart-burning hate. Spenser. Lord, place me in thy consort. Herbert.

5. Etym: [Perh. confused with concert.]

Defn: Harmony of sounds; concert, as of musical instruments. [Obs.] Milton. To make a sad consort`; Come, let us join our mournful song with theirs. Spenser.

Prince consort, the husband of a queen regnant. — Queen consort, the wife of a king, as distinguished from a queen regnant, who rules alone, and a queen dowager, the window of a king.

CONSORT Con*sort", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Consorted; p.pr. & vb.n. Consorting.]

Defn: To unite or to keep company; to associate; — used with with. Which of the Grecian chiefs consorts with thee Dryden.

CONSORT Con*sort", v. t.

1. To unite or join, as in affection, harmony, company, marriage, etc.; to associate. He with his consorted Eve. Milton. For all that pleasing is to living ears Was there consorted in one harmony. Spenser. He begins to consort himself with men. Locke.

2. To attend; to accompany. [Obs.] Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence. Shak.

CONSORTABLE Con*sort"a*ble, a.

Defn: Suitable for association or companionship. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

CONSORTION Con*sor"tion, n. Etym: [L. consortio.]

Defn: Fellowship; association; companionship. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

CONSORTSHIP Con"sort*ship, n.

Defn: The condition of a consort; fellowship; partnership. Hammond.

CONSOUND Con"sound, n. Etym: [Corrupted fr. F. consoude, fr L. consolida comfrey (so called because supposed to have healing power); con- + solidus solid, consolidare to make solid. Cf. Comfrey, Consolidate.] (Bot.)

Defn: A name applied loosely to several plants of different genera, esp. the comfrey.

CONSPECIFIC Con`spe*cif"ic, a.

Defn: Of the same species.

CONSPECTUITY Con`spec*tu"i*ty, n.; pl. Conspectuities.

Defn: The faculty of seeing; sight; eye.

Note: [A word of Menenius's making. Coriolanus ii. 1] Shak.

CONSPECTUS Con*spec"tus, n.

Defn: A general sketch or outline of a subject; a synopsis; an epitome.

CONSPERSION Con*sper"sion, n. Etym: [L. conspersio, fr. conspergere to sprinkle.]

Defn: The act of sprinkling. [Obs.] The conspersion washing the doorposts. Jer. Taylor.

CONSPICUITY Con`spi*cu"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being clear or bright; brightness; conspicuosness. [R.] Chapman.

CONSPICUOUS Con*spic"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. conspicuus, fr. conspicere to get sight of, to perceive; con- + spicere, specere, to look. See Spy]

1. Open to the view; obvious to the eye; easy to be seen; plainly visible; manifest; attracting the eye. It was a rock Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, Conspicious far. Milton. Conspicious by her veil and hood, Signing the cross, the abbess stood. Sir W. Scott.

2. Obvious to the mental eye; easily recognized; clearly defined; notable; prominent; eminent; distinguished; as, a conspicuous exellence, or fault. A man who holds a conspicuous place in the political, eccesiastical, and literary history of England. Macaulay.

Syn. — Distinguished; eminent; famous; illustrious; prominent; celebrated. See Distinguished. — Con*spic"u*ous*ly, adv. — Con*spic"u*ous*ness, n.

CONSPIRACY Con*spir"a*cy, n.; pl. Conspiracies. Etym: [See Conspiration.]

1. A combination of men for an evil purpose; as agreement, between two or more persons, to commit a crime in concert, as treason; a plot. When shapen was all his conspiracy From point to point. Chaucer. They made a conspiracy against [Amaziah]. 2 Kings xiv. 19. I had forgot that foul conspiracy Of the beast Caliban and his confederates. Shak.

2. A concurence or general tendency, as of circumstances, to one event, as if by agreement. A conspiracy in all heavenly and earthly things. Sir P. Sidney.

3. (Law)

Defn: An agreement, manifesting itself in words or deeds, by which two or more persons confederate to do an unlawful act, or to use unlawful to do an act which is lawful; confederacy.

Syn. — Combination; plot; cabal.

CONSPIRANT Con*spir"ant, a. Etym: [L. conspirans, p.pr. of conspirare: cf. F. conspirant.]

Defn: Engaging in a plot to commit a crime; conspiring. [Obs.] Shak.

CONSPIRATION Con`spi*ra"tion, n. Etym: [F. conspiration, L. conspiratio.]

Defn: Agreement or concurrence for some end or purpose; conspiracy. [R.] As soon as it was day, certain Jews made a conspiration. Udall. In our natural body every part has a nacassary sympathy with every other, and all together form, by their harmonious onspiration, a healthy whole. Sir W. Hamilton.

CONSPIRATOR Con*spir"a*tor, n.

Defn: One who engages in a conspiracy; a plotter. 2 Sam. xv. 31.

CONSPIRE Con*spire", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Conspired; p.pr. & vb.n. Conspiring.] Etym: [F. conspirer, L. onspirare to blow together, harmonize, agree, plot; con- + spirare to breathe, blow. See Spirit.]

1. To make an agreement, esp. a secret agreement, to do some act, as to commit treason or a crime, or to do some unlawful deed; to plot together. They conspired against [Joseph] to slay him. Gen. xxxvii. 18. You have conspired against our royal person, Joined with an enemy proclaimed. Shak.

2. To concur to one end; to agree. The press, the pulpit, and the stage Conspire to censure and expose our age. Roscommon.

Syn. — To unite; concur; complot; confederate; league.

CONSPIRE Con*spire", v. t.

Defn: To plot; to plan; to combine for. Angry clouds conspire your overthrow. Bp. Hall.

CONSPIRER Con*spir"er, n.

Defn: One who conspires; a conspirator.

CONSPIRINGLY Con*spir"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of a conspirator; by conspiracy. Milton.

CONSPISSATION Con`spis*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. conspissatio, fr. onspissare to make thick.]

Defn: A making thick or viscous; thickness; inspissation. [R.] Dr. H. More.

CONSPURCATE Con*spur"cate, v. t. Etym: [L. conspurcatus, p.p. of conspurcare.]

Defn: To pollute; to defile. [Obs.] Cockeram.

CONSPURCATION Con`spur*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. conspurcare, -spuratum, to defile.]

Defn: This act of defiling; defilement; pollution. Bp. Hall.

CONSTABLE Con"sta*ble, n. Etym: [OE. conestable, constable, a constable (in sense 1), OF. conestable, F. conn, LL. conestabulus, constabularius, comes stabuli, orig., count of the stable, master of the horse, equerry; comes ount (L. ompanion) + L. stabulum stable. See Count a nobleman, and Stable.]

1. A high officer in the monarhical establishments of the Middle Ages.

Note: The constable of France was the first officer of the crown, and had the chief ommand of the army. It was also his duty to regulate all matters of chivalry. The office was suppressed in 1627. The constable, or lord high constable, of England, was one of the highest officers of the crown, commander in chief of the forces, and keeper of the peace of the nation. He also judicial cognizance of many important matters. The office was as early as the Conquest, but has been disused (except on great and solemn occasions), since the attainder of Stafford, duke of Buckingham, in the reign of Henry VIII.

2. (Law)

Defn: An officer of the peace having power as a conservator of the public peace, and bound to exeute the warrants of judicial offiers. Bouvier.

Note: In England, at the present time, the constable is a conservator of the peace within his district, and is also charged by various statutes with other duties, such as serving summons, precepts, warrants, etc. In the United States, constables are town or its officers of the peace, with powers similar to those of the constables of England. In addition to their duties as conservators of the peace, they are invested with others by statute, such as to execute civil as well as criminal process in certain cases, to attend courts, keep juries, etc. In some cities, there are officers called high constables, who act as shiefs of the constabulary or police force. In other cities the title of constable, as well as the office, is merged in that of the polie officer. High constable, a constable having certain duties and powers within a hundred. [Eng.] — Petty constable, a conservator of the peace within a parish or tithing; a tithingman. [Eng.] — Special constable, a person appointed to act as constable of special occasions. — To overrun, or outrun, the constable, the spend more than one's income; to get into debt. [Colloq.] Smollett.

CONSTABLERY Con"sta*bler*y ( or , n. Etym: [OF. conestablerie. Cf. Constabulary.]

1. The constabulary. [Obs.]

2. The distrit or jurisdiction of a constable. [Obs.]

CONSTABLESHIP Con"sta*bleship, n.

Defn: The office or functions of a constable.

CONSTABLESS Con"sta*bless, n.

Defn: The wife of a constable. [Obs.]

CONSTABLEWICK Con"sta*ble*wick`, n. Etym: [Constable + wick a village]

Defn: The district to which a constable's power is limited. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.

CONSTABULARY Con*stab"u*la*ry, a. Etym: [LL. constabularius an equerry. See Constable.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to constables; consisting of constables.

CONSTABULARY Con*stab"u*la*ry, n.

Defn: The collective body of constables in any town, district, or country.

CONSTABULATORY Con*stab"u*la*to*ry, n.

Defn: A constabulary. [Obs.] Bp. Burnet.

CONSTANCY Con"stan*cy, n. Etym: [L. constantia: cf. F. constance. See Constant.]

1. The state or quality of being constant or steadfast; freedom from hange; stability; fixedness; immutabilitu; asm the constancy of God in his nature and attributes.

2. Fixedness or firmness of mind; persevering resolution; especially, firmness of mind under sufferings, steadiness in attashments, or perseverance in enterprise; stability; fidelity. A fellow of plain unoined constancy. Shak. Constancy and contempt of danger. Prescott.

Syn. — Fixedness; stability; firmness; steadiness; permanence; steadfastness; resolution. See Firmness.

CONSTANT Con"stant, a. Etym: [L. onstans, -antis, p.pr. of constare to stand firm, to be consistent; con- + stare to stand: cf.F. constant. See Stand and f. Cost, v. t.]

1. Firm; solid; fixed; immovable; — opposed to fluid. [Obs.] If . . . you mix them, you may turn these two fluid liquors into a constant body. Boyle.

2. Not liable, or given, to change; permanent; regular; continuous; continually recurring; steadfast; faithful; not fickle. Both loving one fair maid, they yet remained constant friends. Sir P. Sidney. I am constant to my purposes. Shak. His gifts, his constant ourtship, nothing gained. Dryden. Onward the constant current sweeps. Longfellow.

3. (Math. & Physics)

Defn: Remaining unchanged or invariable, as a quantity, forc, law, etc.

4. Consistent; logical. [Obs.] Shak.

Syn. — Fixed; steadfast; unchanging; permanent; unalterable; immutable; perpetual; continual; resolute; firm; unshaken; determined. — Constant, Continual, Perpetual. These words are sometimes used in an absolute and sometimes in a qualified sense. Constant denotes, in its absolute sense, unchangeably fixed; as, a constant mind or purpose. In its qualified sense, it marks something as a "standing" fact or occurence; as, liable to constant interruptions; constantly called for. Continual, in its absolute sense, coincides with continuous. See Continuous. In its qualified sense, it describes, a thing as occuring in steady and rapid succession; as, a round of continual calls; continually changing. Perpetual denotes, in its absolute sense, what literally never ceases or comes to an end; as, perpetual motion. In its qualified sense, it is used hyperbolically, and denotes that which rarely ceases; as, perpetual disturbance; perpetual noise; perpetual intermeddling.

CONSTANT Con"stant, n.

1. That which is not subject to change; that which is invariable.

2. (Math.)

Defn: A quantity that does not change its value; — used in countradistinction variable. Absolute costant (Math.), one whose value is absolutely the same under all cirumstanes, as the number 10, or any numeral. — Arbitrary constant, an undetermined constant in a differential equation having the same value during all changes in the values of the variables.

CONSTANTIA Con*stan"ti*a ( or , n.

Defn: A superior wine, white and red, from Constantia, in Cape Colony.

CONSTANTLY Con"stant*ly, adv.

Defn: With constancy; steadily; continually; perseveringly; without cessation; uniformly. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Acts. xii. 15.

CONSTAT Con"stat, n. Etym: [L., it is evident.] (Law)

Defn: A certificate showing what appears upon record touching a matter in question.

CONSTATE Con*state", v. t. Etym: [F. constater; L. con- + stare to stand.]

Defn: To ascertain; to verify; to establish; to prove. F. P. Cobbe.

CONSTELLATE Con"stel*late ( or , v. i. Etym: [Pref. con- + L. stellatus, p.p. of stellare to cover with stars, stella star. See Stellate.]

Defn: To join luster; to shine with united radiance, or one general light. [R.] The several things which engage our affections . . . shine forth and constellate in God. Boule.

CONSTELLATE Con"stel*late, v. t.

1. To unite in one luster or radiane, as stars. [R.] Whe know how to constellate these lights. Boyle.

2. To set or adorn with stars or constellations; as, constellated heavens. J. Barlow.

CONSTELLATION Con`stel*la"tion, n. Etym: [F. constellation, L. constellatio.]

1. A cluster or group of fixed stars, or dvision of the heavens, designated in most cases by the name of some animal, or of some mythologial personage, within whose imaginary outline, as traced upon the heavens, the group is included. The constellations seem to have been almost purposely named and delineated to cause as much confusion and inconvenience as possible. Sir J. Herschel.

Note: In each of the constellations now recognized by astronomers (about 90 in number) the brightest stars, both named and unnamed are designated nearly in the order of brilliancy by the letters of the Greek alphabet; as,

2. An assemblage of splendors or excellences. The constellations of genius had already begun to show itself . . . which was to shed a glory over the meridian and close of Philip's reign. Prescott.

3. Fortune; fate; destiny. [Obs.] It is constellation, which causeth all that a man doeth. Gower.

CONSTERNATION Con`ster*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. consternatio, fr. consternare to overome, perplex, an accessory form of consternere to trow down, prostrate; con + sternere to spread out, throw down: cf. F. consternation. See Straum.]

Defn: Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for refletion; terror, combined with amaxement; dismay. The chiefs around, In silence wrapped, in onsternation downed. Attend the stern reply. Pope.

Syn. — Alarm; fright; amazement; astonishment; surprise; panic; returbation. See Alarm.

CONSTIPATE Con"sti*pate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constipated; p.pr. & vb.n. Constipating.] Etym: [L. constipatus, p.p. of constipare; con- + stipare to crowd together. See Costive.]

1. To crowd or cram into a narrow compass; to press together or condense. [Obs.] Of cold the property is to condense and constipate. Bacon.

2. To stop (a channel) by filling it, and preventing passage through it; as, to constipate the capillary vessels.

3. (Med.)

Defn: To render costive; to cause constipation in.

CONSTIPATION Con`sti*pa"tion, n. Etym: [L. constipatio a crowding together: cf.F. constipation.]

1. Act of crowding anything into a less compass, or the state of being crowded or pressed together; condensation. [Obs.] Fullness of matter, or a pretty close constipation . . . of its particles. Boyle.

2. A state of the bowels in which the evacuations are infrequent and difficult, or the intestines become filled with hardened faces; costiveness.

CONSTITUENCY Con*stit"u*en*cy, n.; pl. Constituencies (.

Defn: A body of constituents, as the body of citizens or voters in a representative district.

CONSTITUENT Con*stit"u*ent, a. Etym: [L. constituens, -entis, p.pr. See Constitute.]

1. Serving to form, compose, or make up; elemental; component. Body, soul, and reason are the three parts necessarily constituent of a man. Dryden.

2. Having the power of electing or appointing. A question of right arises between the constituent and representative body. Junius.

CONSTITUENT Con*stit"u*ent, n.

1. The person or thing which constitutes, determines, or constructs. Their first composure and origination require a higher and nobler constituent than chance. Sir M. Hale

2. That which constitutes or composes, as a part, or an essential part; a component; an element. We know how to bring these constituents together, and to cause them to form water. Tyndall.

3. One for whom another acts; especially, one who is represented by another in a legislative assembly; — correlative to representative. The electors in the district of a representative in Congress, or in the legislature of a State, are termed his constituents. Abbot. To appeal from the representatives to the constituents. Macaulay.

4. (Law)

Defn: A person who appoints another to act for him as attorney in fact. Burrill.

CONSTITUTE Con"sti*tute, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constituted; p.pr. & vb.n. Constituting.] Etym: [L. constitutus, p.p. of constiture to constitute; con- + statuere to place, set, fr. status station, fr. stare to stand. See Stand.]

1. To cause to stand; to establish; to enact. Laws appointed and constituted by lawful authority. Jer. Taylor.

2. To make up; to compose; to form. Truth and reason constitute that intellectual gold that defies destruction. Johnson.

3. To appoint, depute, or elect to an offie; to make and empower. Me didst Thou constitute a priest of thine. Wordsworth. Constituted authorities, the officers of government, collectively, as of a nation, city, town, etc. Bartlett.

CONSTITUTE Con"sti*tute, n.

Defn: An established law. [Obs.] T. Preston.

CONSTITUTER Con"sti*tu`ter, n.

Defn: One who constitutes or appoints.

CONSTITUTION Con`sti*tu"tion, n. Etym: [F. constitution, L. constitute.]

1. The act or process of constituting; the action of enacting, establishing, or appointing; enactment; establishment; formation.

2. The state of being; that form of being, or structure and connection of parts, which constitutes and characterizes a system or body; natural condition; structure; texture; conformation. The physical constitution of the sun. Sir J. Herschel.

3. The agregate of all one's inherited physical qualities; the aggregate of the vital powers of an individual, with refernce to ability to endure hardship, resist disease, etc.; as, a robust constitution. Our constitutions have never been enfeebled by the vices or luxuries of the oid world. Story.

4. The aggregate of mental qualities; temperament. He defended himself with . . . less passion than was expected from his constitution. Clarendon.

5. The fundamental, organic law or principles of government of men, embodied in written documents, or implied in the institutions and usages of the country or society; also, a written instrument embodying such organic law, and laying down fundamental rules and principles for the conduct of affairs. Our constitution had begun to exist in times when statesmen were not much accustomed to frame exact definitions. Macaulay.

Note: In England the constitution is unwritten, and may be modified from time to time by act of Parliament. In the United States a constitution cannot ordinarily be modified, exept through such processes as the constitution itself ordains.

6. An authoritative ordinance, regulation or enactment; especially, one made by a Roman emperor, or one affecting ecclesiastical doctrine or disipline; as, the constitutions of Justinian. The positive constutions of our own churches. Hooker. A constitution of Valentinian addressed to Olybrius, then prefect of Rome, for the regulation of the conduct of advocates. George Long. Apostolic constitutions. See under Apostolic.

CONSTITUTIONAL Con`sti*tu"tion*al, a. Etym: [f. F. constitutionnel.]

1. Belonging to, or inherent in, the constitution, or in the structure of body or mind; as, a constitutional infirmity; constitutional ardor or dullness.

2. In accordance with, or authorized by, the constitution of a state or a society; as, constitutional reforms.

3. Regulated by, dependent on, or secured by, a constitution; as, constitutional government; constitutional rights. Hallam.

4. Relating to a constitution, or establishment form of government; as, a constitutional risis. The anient constitutional traditions of the state. Macaulay.

5. For the benefit or one's constitution or health; as, a constitutional walk. [Colloq.] Constitutional law, law that relates to the constitution, as a permanent system of political and juridical government, as distinguished from statutory and common law, which relate to matters subordinate to such constitution.

CONSTITUTIONAL Con`sti*tu"tion*al, n.

Defn: A walk or other exercise taken for one's health or constitution. [Colloq.] Thackeray. The men trudged diurnal constitutionals along the different roads. Compton Reade.

CONSTITUTIONALISM Con`sti*tu"tion*al*ism, n.

Defn: The theory, principles, or authority of constitutional government; attachment or adherene to a constitution or constitutional government. Carlyle.

CONSTITUTIONALIST Con`sti*tu"tion*al*ist, n.

Defn: One who advocates a constitutional form of government; a constitutionalist.

CONSTITUTIONALITY Con`sti*tu`tion*al"i*ty, n.; pl. -ties. Etym: [f. F. constitutionalité.]

1. The quality or state of being constitutional, or inherent in the natural frame.

2. The state of being consistent with the constitution or frame of government, or of being authorized by its provisions. Burke. Constitutionalities, bottomless cavilings and questionings about written laws. Carlyle.

CONSTITUTIONALLY Con`sti*tu"tion*al*ly, adv.

1. In accordance with the constitution or natural disposition of the mind or body; naturally; as, he was constitutionally timid. The English were constitutionally humane. Hallam.

2. In accordance with the constitution or fundamental law; legally; as, he was not constitutionally appointed. Nothing would indue them to acknowledge that [such] an assembly . . . was constitutionally a Parliament. Macaulay.

CONSTITUTIONIST Con`sti*tu"tion*ist, n.

Defn: One who adheres to the constitution of the country. Bolingbroke.

CONSTITUTIVE Con"sti*tu`tive, a.

1. Tending or assisting to constitute or compose; elemental; essential. An ingredient and constitutive part of every virtue. Barrow.

2. Having power to enact, establish, or create; instituting; determining. Sir W. Hamilton.

CONSTITUTIVELY Con"sti*tu`tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a constitutive manner.

CONSTRAIN Con*strain", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constrained; p.pr. & vb.n. Constraining.] Etym: [OF. constraindre, F. contrainde, L. constringere; con- + stringere to draw tight. See Strain, and. cf. Constrict, Conbstringere.]

1. To secure by bonds; to chain; to bond or con He binds in hains The droway prophet, and his limbs constrains. Dryden. When winter frosts constrain the fields with old. Dryden.

2. To bring into a narrow compass; to compress. How the strait stays the slender waist constrain. Gay.

3. To hold back by force; to restrain; to repress. My sire in caves constrains the winds. Dryden.

4. To compel; to force; to necessiate; to oblige. The love of Christ constraineth us. 2. Cor. v. 14. I was constrained to appeal unto CActs xxviii. 19.

5. To violate; to ravish. [Obs.] Shak.

6. To produce in such a manner as to give an unnatural effet; as, a constrained voice.

Syn. — To compel; force; drive; impel; urge; press.

CONSTRAINABLE Con*strain"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. constraignable, F. contraignable.]

Defn: Capable of being constrained; liable to constraint, or to restraint. Hooker.

CONSTRAINED Con*strained", a.

Defn: Marked by constraint; not free; not voluntary; embarrassed; as, a constrained manner; a constrained tone.

CONSTRAINEDLY Con*strain"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: By constraint or compulsion; in a constrained manner. Hooker.

CONSTRAINER Con*strain"er, n.

Defn: One who constrains.

CONSTRAINT Con*straint", n. Etym: [OF. constrainte, F. constrainte.]

Defn: The act of constraining, or the state of being constrained; that which compels to, or restrains from, action; compulsion; restraint; necessity. Long imprisonment and hard constraint. Spenser. Not by constraint, but bDryden.

Syn. — Compulsion; violence; necessity; urgency. — Constraint, Compulsion. Constraint implies strong binding force; as, the constraint of necessity; the constraint of fear. Compulsion implies the exertion of some urgent impelling force; as, driven by compulsion. The former prevents us from acting agreeably to our wishes; the latter forces us to act contrary to our will. Compulsion is always produced by some active agent; a constraint may be laid upon us by the forms of civil society, or by other outward circumstances. Crabb.

CONSTRAINTIVE Con*straint"ive, a.

Defn: Constraining; compulsory. [R.] "Any constraintive vow." R. Carew.

CONSTRICT Con*strict", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constricted; p.pr. & vb.n. Constricting.] Etym: [L. constrictus, p.p. of constringere. See Constrain.]

Defn: To draw together; to render narrower or smaller; to bind; to cramp; to contract or ause to shrink. Such things as constrict the fibers. Arbuthnot. Membranous organs inclosing a cavity which their contraction constrict. Todd & Bowman.

CONSTRICTED Con*strict"ed, a.

1. Drawn together; bound; contracted; cramped.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: Contracted or compressed so as to be smaller in certain places or parts than in others.

CONSTRICTION Con*stric"tion, n. Etym: [L. constrictio: cf. F. constriction.]

1. The act of constricting by means of some inherent power or by movement or change in the thing itself, as distinguished from compression.

2. The state of being constricted; the point where a thing is constricted; a narrowing or binding. A constriction of the parts inservient to speech. Grew.

CONSTRICTIVE Con*strict"ive, a.

Defn: Serving or tending to bind or constrict.

CONSTRICTOR Con*strict"or, n.

1. That which constricts, draws together, or contracts.

2. (Anat.)

Defn: A muscle which contracts or closes an orifice, or which compresses an organ; a sphincter.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A serpent that kills its prey by inclosing and crushing it with its folds; as, the boa constrictor.

CONSTRINGE Con*stringe", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constringed; p.pr. & vb.n. Constringing.] Etym: [L. constringere. See onstrain.]

Defn: To dawn together; to contract; to force to contract itself; to constrict; to cause to shrink. [R.] Strong liquors . . . intoxicate, constringe, harden the fibers, and coagulate the fluids. Arbuthnot.

CONSTRINGENT Con*strin"gent, a. Etym: [L. constringens, p.pr.]

Defn: Having the quality of contracting, binding, or compressing. Thomson.

CONSTRUCT Con*struct", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Constructed; p.pr. & vb.n. Constructing.] Etym: [L. constructus, p.p. of construere to bring together, to construct; con- + struere to pile up, set in order. See Structure, and cf. Construe.]

1. To put together the constituent parts of (something) in their proper place and order; to build; to form; to make; as, to construct an edlifice.

2. To devise; to invent; to set in order; to arrange; as, to construct a theory of ethics.

Syn. — To build; erect; form; compile; make; fabricate; originate; invent.

CONSTRUCT Con"struct, a.

Defn: Formed by, or relating to, construction, interpretation, or inference. Construct form or state (Heb. Gram.), that of a noun used before another which has the genitive relation to it.

CONSTRUCTER Con*struct"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, constructs or frames.

CONSTRUCTION Con*struc"tion, n. Etym: [L. constructio: cf. F. construction.]

1. The process or art of constructing; the act of building; erection; the act of devising and forming; fabrication; composition.

2. The form or manner of building or putting together the parts of anything; structure; arrangement. An astrolabe of peculiar construction. Whewell.

3. (Gram.)

Defn: The arrangement and connection of words in a sentence; syntactical arrangement. Some particles . . . in certain constructions have the sense of a whole sentence contained in them. Locke.

4. The method of construing, interpreting, or explaining a declaration or fact; an attributed sense or meaning; understanding; explanation; interpretation; sense. Any person . . . might, by the sort of construction that would be put on this act, become liable to the penalties of treason. Hallam. Strictly, the term [construction] signifies determining the meaning and proper effect of language by a consideration of the subject matter and attendant circumstances in connection with the words employed. Abbott. Interpretation properly precedes construction, but it does not go beyond the written text. Parsons. Construction of an equation (Math.), the drawing of such lines and figures as will represent geometrically the quantities in the equation, and their relations to each other. — Construction train (Railroad), a train for transporting men and materials for construction or repairs.

CONSTRUCTIONAL Con*struc"tion*al, a.

Defn: Pertaining to, or deduced from, construction or interpretation.

CONSTRUCTIONIST Con*struc"tion*ist, n.

Defn: One who puts a certain construction upon some writing or instrument, as the Constitutions of the United States; as, a strict constructionist; a broad constructionist.

CONSTRUCTIVE Con*struct"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. constructif.]

1. Having ability to construct or form; employed in construction; as, to exhibit constructive power. The constructive fingers of Watts. Emerson.

2. Derived from, or depending on, construction or interpretation; not directly expressed, but inferred. Constructive crimes (Law), acts having effects analogous to those of some statutory or common law crimes; as, constructive treason. Constructive crimes are no longer recognized by the courts. — Constructive notice, notice imputed by construction of law. — Constructive trust, a trust which may be assumed to exist, though no actual mention of it be made.

CONSTRUCTIVELY Con*struct"ive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a constructive manner; by construction or inference. A neutral must have notice of a blockade, either actually by a formal information, or constructively by notice to his government. Kent.

CONSTRUCTIVENESS Con*struct"ive*ness, n.

1. Tendency or ability to form or construct.

2. (Phren.)

Defn: The faculty which enables one to construct, as in mechanical, artistic, or literary matters.

CONSTRUCTOR Con*struct"or, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. constructor.]

Defn: A constructer.

CONSTRUCTURE Con*struc"ture, n.

Defn: That which is constructed or formed; an edifice; a fabric. [Obs.]

CONSTRUE Con*strue (; Archaic ), v. t. [imp & p. p. Construed; p. pr & vb. n. Construing.] Etym: [L. construere: cf. F. construire. See Construct.]

1. To apply the rules of syntax to (a sentence or clause) so as to exhibit the structure, arrangement, or connection of, or to discover the sense; to explain the construction of; to interpret; to translate.

2. To put a construction upon; to explain the sense or intention of; to interpret; to understand. Thus we are put to construe and paraphrase our own words to free ourselves either from the ignorance or malice of our enemies. Bp. Stilingfleet. And to be dull was construed to be good. Pope.

CONSTUPRATE Con"stu*prate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Construprated; p.p. & vb.n. Constuprating.] Etym: [L. constupratus, p.p. of constuprare to ravish; con- + stuprare to ravish, stuprum rape.]

Defn: To ravish; to debauch. Burton.

CONSTUPRATION Con`stu*pra"tion, n.

Defn: The act of ravishing; violation; defilement. Bp. Hall.

CONSUBSTANTIAL Con`sub*stan"tial, a. Etym: [L. consubstantialis; con- + substantialis: cf. F. consubstantiel. See Substantial.]

Defn: Of the same kind or nature; having the same substance or essence; coessential. Christ Jesus . . . coeternal and consubstantial with the Father and with the Holy Ghost. Foxe.

CONSUBSTANTIALISM Con`sub*stan"tial*ism, n.

Defn: The doctrine of consubstantiation.

CONSUBSTANTIALIST Con`sub*stan"tial*ist, n.

Defn: One who believes in consubstantiation. Barrow.

CONSUBSTANTIALITY Con`sub*stan"ti*al"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. consubstantialité.]

Defn: Participation of the same nature; coexistence in the same substance. "His [the Son's] . . . consubstantiality with the Father." Hammend.

CONSUBSTANTIALLY Con`sub*stan"tial*ly, adv.

Defn: In a consubstantial manner; with identity of substance or nature.

CONSUBSTANTIATE Con`sub*stan"ti*ate, v. t. [imp & p. p. Consubstantiated; p.pr & vb. n. Consubstantiating.]

Defn: To cause to unite, or to regard as united, in one common substance or nature. [R.] His soul must be consubstantiated with reason. Jer. Taylor.

CONSUBSTANTIATE Con`sub*stan"ti*ate, v. i.

Defn: To profess or belive the doctrine of consubstantion. The consubstantiating church and priest. Dryden.

CONSUBSTANTIATE Con`sub*stan"ti*ate, a.

Defn: Partaking of the same substance; united; consubstantial. We must love her [the wife] that is thus consubstantiate with us. Feltham.

CONSUBSTANTIATION Con`sub*stan`ti*a"tion, n.

1. An identity or union of substance.

2. (Theol.)

Defn: The actual, substantial presence of the body of Christ with the bread and wine of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper; impanation; — opposed to transubstantiation.

Note: This view, held by Luther himself, was called consubstantiation by non Lutheran writers in contradistinction to transsubstantiation, the Catholic view.

CONSUETUDE Con"sue*tude (; 144), n. Etym: [L. consuetudo. See Custom.]

Defn: Custom, habit; usage. [R.] To observe this consuetude or law. Barnes .

CONSUETUDINAL Con`sue*tu"di*nal, a. Etym: [LL. consuetudinalis.]

Defn: According to custom; customary; usual. [R.]

CONSUETUDINARY Con`sue*tu"di*na"ry, a. Etym: [LL. consuetudinarius.]

Defn: Customary.

CONSUETUDINARY Con`sue*tu"di*na*ry, n.; pl. Consuetudinaries (.

Defn: A manual or ritual of customary devotional exercises.

CONSUL Con"sul, n. Etym: [L., prob. fr. consulere to deliberate. See Consult.]

1. (Rom. Antiq.)

Defn: One of the two chief magistrates of the republic.

Note: They were chosen annually, originally from the patricians only, but later from the plebeians also.

2. A senator; a counselor. [Obs.] Many of the consuls, raised and met, Are at the duke's already. Shak. With kings and consuls of the earth. Job. iii. 14 (Douay Ver. )

3. (Fr. Hist.)

Defn: One of the three chief magistrates of France from 1799 to 1804, who were called, respectively, first, second, and third consul.

4. An official comissioned to reside in some foreign country, to care for the commercial interests of the citizens of the appointing government, and to protect its seamen. Consul general, a consul of the first rank, stationed in an important place, or having jurisdiction in several places or over several consula. — Vice consul, a consular officer holding the place of a consul during the consul's absence or after he has been relieved.

CONSULAGE Con"sul*age, n. (Com.)

Defn: A duty or tax paid by merchants for the protection of their connerce by means of a consul in a foreign place.

CONSULAR Con"su*lar, a. Etym: [L. consularis; cf. F. consulaire.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to a consul; performing the duties of a consul; as, consular power; consular dignity; consular officers.

CONSULARY Con"su*la"ry, a.

Defn: Consular. [Obs.] Holland.

CONSULATE Con"su*late, n. Etym: [L. consulatus: cf. F. consulat.]

1. The office of a consul. Addison.

2. The jurisdiction or residence of a consul. Kent.

3. Consular government; term of office of a consul.

CONSULSHIP Con"sul*ship, n.

1. The office of a consul; consulate.

2. The term of office of a consul.

CONSULT Con*sult", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Consulted; p.pr. & vb.n. Consulting.] Etym: [L. consultare, fr. consulere to consult: cf. f. consulter. Cf. Counsel.]

Defn: To seek the opinion or advice of another; to take consel; to deliberate together; to confer. Let us consult upon to-morrow's business. Shak. All the laws of England have been made by the kings England, consulting with the nobility and commons. Hobbes.

CONSULT Con*sult", v. t.

1. To ask advice of; to seek the opinion of; to apply to for information or instruction; to refer to; as, to consult a physician; to consult a dictionary. Men fergot, or feared, to consult . . . ; they were content to consult liberaries. Whewell.

2. To have reference to, in judging or acting; to have regard to; to consider; as, to consult one's wishes. We are . . . to consult the necessities of life, rather than matters of ornament and delight. L'Estrange.

3. To deliberate upon; to take for. [Obs.] Manythings were there consulted for the future, yet nothing was positively resolved. Clarendon.

4. To bring about by counsel or contrivance; to devise; to contrive. [Obs.] Thou hast consulted shame to thy Hab. ii. 10.

CONSULT Con*sult" ( or ), n.

1. The act of consulting or deliberating; consultation; also, the result of consulation; determination; decision. [Obs.] The council broke; And all grave consults dissolved in smoke. Dryden.

2. A council; a meeting for consultation. [Obs.] "A consult of coquettes." Swift.

3. Agreement; concert [Obs.] Dryden.

CONSULTARY Con*sult"a*ry, a.

Defn: Formed by consultation; resulting from conference. Consultary response (Law), the opinion of a court on a special case. Wharton.

CONSULTATION Con`sul*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. consultatio: cf. F. consultation.]

1. The act of consulting or conferring; deliberation of two or more persons on some matter, with a view to a decision. Thus they doubtful consultations dark Ended. Milton.

2. A council or conference, as of physicians, held to consider a special case, or of lawyers restained in a cause. Writ of consultation (Law), a writ by which a cause, improperly removed by prohibition from one court to another, is returned to the court from which it came; — so called because the judges, on consultation, find the prohibition ill-founded.

CONSULTATIVE Con*sult"a*tive, a.

Defn: Pertaining to consultation; having the privilege or right of conference. "A consultative . . . power." Abp. Bramhall.

CONSULTATORY Con*sult"a*to*ry, a.

Defn: Formed by, or resulting from, consultation; advisory. Bancroft.

CONSULTER Con*sult"er, n.

Defn: One who consults, or asks counsel or information.

CONSULTING Con*sult"ing, a.

Defn: That consults. Consulting physician (Med.), a physician who consults with the attending practitioner regarding any case of disease.

CONSULTIVE Con*sult"ive, a.

Defn: Determined by, or pertaining to, consultation; deliberate; consultative. He that remains in the grace of God sins not by any deliberative, consultive, knowing act. Jer. Taylor.

CONSUMABLE Con*sum"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being consumed; that may be destroyed, dissipated, wasted, or spent. "Consumable commodities." Locke.

CONSUME Con*sume", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Consumed; p.pr. & vb.n. Consuming.] Etym: [L. consumere to take wholly or complectely, to consume; con- + sumere to take; sub + emere to buv. See Redeem.]

Defn: To destroy, as by decomposition, dissipation, waste, or fire; to use up; to expend; to waste; to burn up; to eat up; to devour. If he were putting to my house the brand That shall consume it. Shak. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth consume. Matt. vi. 20 (Rev. Ver. ). Let me alone . . . that I may consume them. Ex. xxxii. 10.

Syn. — To destroy; swallow up; ingulf; absorb; waste; exhaust; spend; expend; squander; lavish; dissipate.

CONSUME Con*sume", v. i.

Defn: To waste away slowly. Therefore, let Renedick, like covered fire, Consume away in sighs. Shak.

CONSUMEDLY Con*sum"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: Excessively. [Low] He's so consumedly pround of it. Thackeray.

CONSUMER Con*sum"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, consumes; as, the consumer of food.

CONSUMER'S GOODS Con*sum"er's goods. (Polit. Econ.)

Defn: Economic goods that directly satisfy human wants or desires, such as food, clothes, pictures, etc.; — called also consumption goods, or goods of the first order, and opposed to producer's goods.

CONSUMER'S SURPLUS Consumer's surplus. (Polit. econ.)

Defn: The excess that a purchaser would be willing to pay for a commodity over that he does pay, rather than go without the commodity; — called also consumer's rent.

The price which a person pays for a thing can never exceed, and seldom comes up to, that which he would be willing to pay rather than go without it. . . . The excess of the price which he would be willing to pay rather than go without it, over that which he actually does pay, is the economic measure of this surplus satisfaction. It has some analogies to a rent; but is perhaps best called simply consumer's surplus. Alfred Marshall.

CONSUMINGLY Con*sum"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a consuming manner.

CONSUMMATE Con*sum"mate, a. Etym: [L. consummatus, p.p. or consummare to accomplish, sum up; con- + summa sum. See Sum.]

Defn: Carried to the utmost extent or degree; of the highest quality; complete; perfect. "A man of perfect and consummate virtue." Addison. The little band held the post with consummate tenacity. Motley

CONSUMMATE Con"sum*mate, v. t. [imp & p. p. Consummated; p. pr & vb. n. Consummating.]

Defn: To bring to completion; to raise to the highest point or degree; to complete; to finish; to perfect; to achieve. To consummate this business happily. Shak.

CONSUMMATELY Con*sum"mate*ly, adv.

Defn: In a consummate manner; completely. T. Warton.

CONSUMMATION Con`sum*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. consummatio.]

Defn: The act of consummating, or the state of being consummated; completed; completion; perfection; termination; end (as of the world or of life). "Tis a consummation Devoutly to be wished. Shak. From its original to its consummation. Addison. Quiet consummation have, And renownShak. Consummation of marrige, completion of the connubial relation by actual cohabition.

CONSUMMATIVE Con*sum"ma*tive, a.

Defn: Serving to consummate; completing. "The final, the consummative procedure of philosophy." Sir W. Hamilton.

CONSUMPTION Con*sump"tion, n.. Etym: [L. consumptio: cf. F. consomption.]

1. The act or process of consuming by use, waste, etc.; decay; destruction. Every new advance of the price to the consumer is a new incentive to him to retrench the quality of his consumption. Burke.

2. The state or process of being consumed, wasted, or diminished; waste; diminution; loss; decay.

3. (Med.)

Defn: A progressive wasting away of the body; esp., that form of wasting, attendant upon pulmonary phthisis and associated with cough, spitting of blood, hectic fever, etc.; pulmonary phthisis; — called also pulmonary consumption. Consumption of the bowels (Med.), inflammation and ulceration of the intestines from tubercular disease.

Syn. — Decline; waste; decay. See Decline.

CONSUMPTIVE Con*sump"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. consomptif.]

1. Of or pertaining to consumption; having the quality of consuming, or dissipating; destructive; wasting. It [prayer] is not consumptive or our time. Sharp. A long consumptive war. Addison.

2. (Med.)

Defn: Affected with, or inclined to, consumption. The lean, consumptive wench, with coughs decayed. Dryden.

CONSUMPTIVE Con*sump"tive, n.

Defn: One affected with consumption; as, a resort for consumptives.

CONSUMPTIVELY Con*sump"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a way tending to or indication consumption. Beddoes.

CONSUMPTIVENESS Con*sump"tive*ness, n.

Defn: A state of being consumptive, or a tendency to a consumption.

CONTABESCENT Con`ta*bes"cent, a. Etym: [L. contabescenc, p.pr. of contabescere.]

Defn: Wasting away gradually. Darwin. - Con*ta*bes"cence, n.

CONTACT Con"tact, n. Etym: [L. contactus, fr. contingere, -tactum, to touch on all sides. See Contingent.]

1. A close union or junction of bodies; a touching or meeting.

2. (Geom.)

Defn: The property of two curves, or surfaces, which meet, and at the point of meeting have a common direction.

3. (Mining)

Defn: The plane between two adjacent bodies of dissimilar rock. Raymond. Contact level, a delicate level so pivoted as to tilt when two parts of a measuring apparatus come into contact with each other; — used in precise determinations of lengths and in the accurate graduation of instruments.

CONTACTION Con*tac"tion, n.

Defn: Act of touching. [Obs.]

CONTAGION Con*ta"gion, n. Etym: [L. contagio: cf. F. contagion. See Contact.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: The transmission of a disease from one person to another, by direct or indirect contact.

Note: The term has been applied by some to the action of miasmata arising from dead animal or vegetable matter, bogs, fens, etc., but in this sense it is now abandoned. Dunglison. And will he steal out of his wholesome bed To dare the vile contagion of the night Shak.

2. That which serves as a medium or agency to transmit disease; a virus produced by, or exhalation proceeding from, a diseased person, and capable of reproducing the disease.

3. The act or means of communicating any influence to the mind or heart; as, the contagion of enthusiasm. "The contagion of example." Eikon Basilike. When lust . . . Lets in defilement to the inward parts, The soul grows clotted by contagion. Milton.

4. Venom; poison. [Obs.] "I'll touch my point with this contagion." Shak.

Syn. — See Infection.

CONTAGIONED Con*ta"gioned, a.

Defn: Affected by contagion.

CONTAGIONIST Con*ta"gion*ist, n.

Defn: One who believes in the contagious character of certain diseases, as of yellow fever.

CONTAGIOUS Con*ta"gious, a. Etym: [L. contagiosus: cf. F. contagieux.]

1. (Med.)

Defn: Communicable by contact, by a virus, or by a bodily exhalation; catching; as, a contagious disease.

2. Conveying or generating disease; pestilential; poisonous; as, contagious air.

3. Spreading or communicable from one to another; exciting similar emotions or conduct in others. His genius rendered his courage more contagious. Wirt. The spirit of imitation is contagious. Ames.

Syn. — Contagious, Infectious. These words have been used in very diverse senses; but, in general, a contagious disease has considered as one which is caught from another by contact, by the breath, by bodily effluvia, etc.; while an infectious disease supposes some entirely different cause acting by a hidden influence, like the miasma of prison ships, of marshes, etc., infecting the system with disease. "This distinction, though not universally admitted by medical men, as to the literal meaning, of the words, certainly applies to them in their figurative use. Thus we speak of the contagious influence of evil associates; their contagion of bad example, the contagion of fear, etc., when we refer to transmission by proximity or contact. On the other hand, we speak of infection by bad principles, etc., when we consider anything as diffused by some hidden influence.

CONTAGIOUS DISEASE Con*ta"gious dis*ease". (Med.)

Defn: A disease communicable by contact with a patient suffering from it, or with some secretion of, or object touched by, such a patient. Most such diseases have already been proved to be germ diseases, and their communicability depends on the transmission of the living germs. Many germ diseases are not contagious, some special method of transmission or inoculation of the germs being required.

CONTAGIOUSLY Con*ta"gious*ly, adv.

Defn: In a contagious manner.

CONTAGIOUSNESS Con*ta"gious*ness, n.

Defn: Quality of being contagious.

CONTAGIUM Con*ta"gi*um, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: Contagion; contagious matter. "Contagium of measles." Tyndall.

CONTAIN Con*tain", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contained; p.pr. & vb.n. Containing.] Etym: [OE. contenen, conteinen, F. contenir, fr. L. continere, - tentum; con- + tenere to hold. See Tenable, and cf. Countenance.]

1. To hold within fixed limits; to comprise; to include; to inclose; to hold. Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this house! 2 Chron. vi. 18. When that this body did contain a spirit. Shak. What thy stores contain bring forth. Milton.

2. To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks.

3. To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds. [Obs., exept as used reflexively.] The king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions. Spenser. Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves. Shak.

CONTAIN Con*tain", v. i.

Defn: To restrain desire; to live in continence or chastity. But if they can not contain, let them marry. 1 Cor. vii. 9.

CONTAINABLE Con*tain"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being contained or comprised. Boyle.

CONTAINANT Con*tain"ant, n.

Defn: A container.

CONTAINER Con*tain"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, contains.

CONTAINMENT Con*tain"ment, n.

Defn: That which is contained; the extent; the substance. [Obs.] The containment of a rich man's estate. Fuller.

CONTAMINABLE Con*tam"i*na*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being contaminated.

CONTAMINATE Con*tam"i*nate, v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contaminated; p.pr. & vb.n. Contaminating.] Etym: [L. contaminatus, p.p. of contaminare to bring into contact, to contaminate, fr. contamen contagion, for contagmen; con- + root of tangere to touch. See Contact.]

Defn: To soil, stain, or corrupt by contact; to tarnish; to sully; to taint; to pollute; to defile. Shall we now Contaminate our figures with base bribes Shak. I would neither have simplicity imposed upon, nor virtue contaminated. Goldsmith.

Syn. — To pollute; defile; sully; taint; tarnish; soil; stain; corrupt.

CONTAMINATE Con*tam"i*nate, a.

Defn: Contaminated; defiled; polluted; tainted. "Contaminate drink." Daniel.

CONTAMINATION Con*tam`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. contaminatio.]

Defn: The act or process of contaminating; pollution; defilement; taint; also, that which contaminates.

CONTAMITIVE Con*tam"i*tive, a.

Defn: Tending or liable to contaminate.

CONTANGO Con*tan"go, n.; pl. Contangoes. Etym: [Prob. a corruption of contingent.]

1. (Stock Exchange)

Defn: The premium or interest paid by the buyer to the seller, to be allowed to defer paying for the stock purchased until the next fortnightly settlement day. [Eng.]

2. (Law)

Defn: The postponement of payment by the buyer of stock on the payment of a premium to the seller. See Backwardation. N. Biddle.

CONTE Conte, n.; pl. Contes (#). [F.]

Defn: A short narrative or tale, esp. one dealing with surprising or marvelous events.

The conte (sic) is a tale something more than a sketch, it may be, and something less than a short story. . . . The "Canterbury Tales" are contes, most of them, if not all, and so are some of the "Tales of a Wayside Inn." Brander Matthews.

CONTECTION Con*tec"tion, n. Etym: [L. contegere, -tectum, to cover up.]

Defn: A covering. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

CONTEK Con"tek, n. Etym: [OE. conteck, conteke, contake, perh. a corruption either of contact or contest.]

1. Quarrel; contention; contest. [Obs.] Contek with bloody knife. Chaucer.

2 2

Defn: Contumely; reproach. [Obs.] Wyclif.

CONTEMN Con*temn", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contemned; p.pr. & vb.n. Contemning ( or ).] Etym: [L. contemnere, -temptum; con- + temnere to slight, despise: cf. OF. contemner.]

Defn: To view or treat with contempt, as mean and despicable; to reject with disdain; to despise; to scorn. Thy pompous delicacies I contemn. Milton. One who contemned divine and human laws. Dryden.

Syn. — To despise; scorn; disdain; spurn; slight; neglect; underrate; overlook. — To Contemn, Despise, Scorn, Disdain. Contemn is the generic term, and is applied especially to objects, qualities, etc., which are deemed contemptible, and but rarely to individuals; to despise is to regard or treat as mean, unbecoming, or worthless; to scorn is stronger, expressing a quick, indignant contempt; disdain is still stronger, denoting either unwarrantable pride and haughtiness or an abhorrence of what is base.

CONTEMNER Con*tem"ner ( or ), n.

Defn: One who contemns; a despiser; a scorner. "Contemners of the gods." South.

CONTEMNINGLY Con*tem"ning*ly, adv.

Defn: Contemptuously. [R.]

CONTEMPER Con*tem"per, v. t. Etym: [L. contemperare, -temperatum; con- + temperare to temper. Cf. Contemperate.]

Defn: To modify or temper; to allay; to qualify; to moderate; to soften. [Obs.] The antidotes . . . have allayed its bitterness and contempered its malignancy. Johnson.

CONTEMPERATE Con*tem"per*ate, v. t. Etym: [See Contemper.]

Defn: To temper; to moderate. [Obs.] Moisten and contemperate the air. Sir T. Browne.

CONTEMPERATION Con*tem`per*a"tion, n.

1. The act of tempering or moderating. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. Proportionate mixture or combination. "Contemperation of light and shade." Boyle.

CONTEMPERATURE Con*tem"per*a*ture, n.

Defn: The condition of being tempered; proportionate mixture; temperature. [Obs.] The different contemperature of the elements. SDouth.

CONTEMPLANCE Con*tem"plance, n.

Defn: Contemplation. [Obs.] Chaucer.

CONTEMPLANT Con*tem"plant, a. Etym: [L. contemplans, p.pr.]

Defn: Given to contemplation; meditative. [R.] Coleridge.

CONTEMPLATE Con"tem*plate, v. t. [imp & p. p. Contemplated (# or #); p.pr & vb. n. Contemplating.] Etym: [L. contemplatus, p.p. of contemplari to contemplate; con- + templum a space for observation marked out by the augur. See Temple.]

1. To look at on all sides or in all its bearings; to view or consider with continued attention; to regard with deliberate care; to meditate on; to study. To love, at least contemplate and admire, What I see excellent. Milton. We thus dilate Our spirits to the size of that they contemplate. Byron.

2. To consider or have in view, as contingent or probable; to look forward to; to purpose; to intend. There remain some particulars to complete the information contemplated by those resolutions. A. Hamilton. If a treaty contains any stipulations which contemplate a state of future war. Kent.

Syn. — To view; behold; study; ponder; muse; meditate on; reflect on; consider; intend; design; plan; propose; purpose. See Meditate.

CONTEMPLATE Con"tem*plate, v. i.

Defn: To consider or think studiously; to ponder; to reflect; to muse; to meditate. So many hours must I contemplate. Shak.

CONTEMPLATION Con`tem*pla"tion, n. Etym: [F. contemplation, L. contemplatio.]

1. The act of the mind in considering with attention; continued attention of the mind to a particular subject; meditation; musing; study. In contemplation of created things, By steps we may ascend to God. Milton. Contemplation is keeping the idea which is brought into the mind for some time actually in view. Locke.

2. Holy meditation. [Obs.] To live in prayer and contemplation. Shak.

3. The act of looking forward to an event as about to happen; expectation; the act of intending or purposing. In contemplation of returning at an early date, he left. Reid. To have in contemplation, to inted or purpose, or to have under consideration.

CONTEMPLATIST Con*tem"pla*tist, n.

Defn: A contemplator. [R.] I. Taylor.

CONTEMPLATIVE Con*tem"pla*tive, a. Etym: [F. contemplatif, L. contemplativus.]

1. Pertaining to contemplation; addicted to, or employed in, contemplation; meditative. Fixed and contemplative their looks. Denham.

2. Having the power of contemplation; as, contemplative faculties. Ray.

CONTEMPLATIVE Con*tem"pla*tive, n. (R. C. Ch.)

Defn: A religious or either sex devoted to prayer and meditation, rather than to active works of charity.

CONTEMPLATIVELY Con*tem"pla*tive*ly, adv.

Defn: With contemplation; in a contemplative manner.

CONTEMPLATIVENESS Con*tem"pla*tive*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being contemplative; thoughtfulness.

CONTEMPLATOR Con"tem*pla`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who contemplates. Sir T. Browne.

CONTEMPORANEITY Con*tem`po*ra*ne"i*ty, n.

Defn: The state of being contemporaneous. The lines of contemporaneity in the oölitic system. J. Philips.

CONTEMPORANEOUS Con*tem`po*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. contemporaneus; con- + tempus time. See Temporal, and cf. Contemporaneous.]

Defn: Living, existing, or occurring at the same time; contemporary. The great age of Jewish philosophy, that of Aben Esra, Maimonides, and Kimchi, had been contemporaneous with the later Spanish school of Arabic philosophy. Milman - Con*tem`po*ra"ne*ous*ness, n.

CONTEMPORANEOUSLY Con*tem`po*ra"ne*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: At the same time with some other event.

CONTEMPORARINESS Con*tem"po*ra*ri*ness, n.

Defn: Existence at the same time; contemporaneousness. Howell.

CONTEMPORARY Con*tem"po*ra*ry, a. Etym: [Pref. con- + L. temporarius of belonging to time, tempus time. See Temporal, and cf. Contemporaneous.]

1. Living, occuring, or existing, at the same time; done in, or belonging to, the same times; contemporaneous. This king [Henry VIII.] was contemporary with the greatest monarchs of Europe. Strype.

2. Of the same age; coeval. A grove born with himself he sees, And loves his old contemporary trees. Cowley.

CONTEMPORARY Con*tem"po*ra*ry, n.; pl. Contemporaries.

Defn: One who lives at the same time with another; as, Petrarch and Chaucer were contemporaries.

CONTEMPT Con*tempt", n. Etym: [L. contemptus, fr. contemnere: cf. OF. contempt. See Contemn.]

1. The act of contemning or despising; the feeling with which one regards that which is esteement mean, vile, or worthless; disdain; scorn. Criminal contempt of public feeling. Macaulay. Nothing, says Longinus, can be great, the contempt of which is great. Addison.

2. The state of being despised; disgrace; shame. Contempt and begarry hangs upon thy back. Shaks.

3. An act or expression denoting contempt. Little insults and contempts. Spectator. The contempt and anger of his lip. Shak.

4. (Law)

Defn: Disobedience of the rules, orders, or process of a court of justice, or of rules or orders of a legislative body; disorderly, contemptuous, or insolent language or behavior in presence of a court, tending to disturb its proceedings, or impair the respect due to its authority.

Note: Contempt is in some jurisdictions extended so as to include publications reflecting injuriously on a court of justice, or commenting unfairly on pending proceedings; in other jurisdictions the courts are prohibited by statute or by the constitution from thus exercising this process.

Syn. — Disdain; scorn; derision; mockery; contumely; neglect; disregard; slight.

CONTEMPTIBILITY Con*tempt`i*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being contemptible; contemptibleness. Speed.

CONTEMPTIBLE Con*tempt"i*ble, a.

1. Worthy of contempt; deserving of scorn or disdain; mean; vile; despicable. Milton. The arguments of tyranny are ascontemptible as its force is dreadful. Burke.

2. Despised; scorned; neglected; abject. Locke.

3. Insolent; scornful; contemptuous. [Obs.] If she should make tender of her love, 't is very possible he 'll scorn it; for the man . . . hath a contemptible spirit. Shak.

Syn. — Despicable; abject; vile; mean; base; paltry; worthless; sorry; pitiful; scurrile. See Contemptuous. — Contemptible, Despicable, Pitiful, Paltry. Despicable is stronger than contemptible, as despise is stronger than contemn. It implies keen disapprobation, with a mixture of anger. A man is despicable chiefly for low actions which mark his life, such as servility, baseness, or mean adulation. A man is contemptible for mean qualities which distinguish his character, especially those which show him to be weak, foolish, or worthless. Treachery is despicable, egotism is contemptible. Pitiful and paltry are applied to cases which are beneath anger, and are simply contemptible in a high degree.

CONTEMPTIBLENESS Con*tempt"i*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The state or quality of being contemptible, or of being despised.

CONTEMPTIBLY Con*tempt"i*bly, adv.

Defn: In a contemptible manner.

CONTEMPTUOUS Con*temp"tu*ous, a.

Defn: Manifecting or expressing contempt or disdain; scornful; haughty; insolent; disdainful. A proud, contemptious behavior. Hammond. Savage invectiveand contemptuous sarcasm. Macaulay. Rome . . . entertained the most contemptuous opinion of the Jews. Atterbury.

Syn. — Scornful; insolent; haughty; disdainful; supercilious; insulting; contumelious. — Contemptuous, Contemptible. These words, from their similarity of sound, are sometimes erroneously interchanged, as when a person speaks of having "a very contemptible opinion of another." Contemptible is applied to that which is the object of contempt; as, contemptible conduct; acontemptible fellow. Contemptuous is applied to that which indicates contempts; as, a contemptuous look; a contemptuous remark; contemptuous treatment. A person, or whatever is personal, as an action, an expression, a feeling, an opinion, may be either contemptuous or contemptible; a thing may be contemptible, but can not be contemptuous.

CONTEMPTUOUSLY Con*temp"tu*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a contemptuous manner; with scorn or disdain; despitefully. The apostles and most eminent Christians were poor, and used contemptuously. Jer. Taylor.

CONTEMPTUOUSNESS Con*temp"tu*ous*ness, n.

Defn: Disposition to or manifestion of contempt; insolence; haughtiness.

CONTEND Con*tend", v. i. [imp. & p.p. Contended; p.pr. & vb.n. Contending.] Etym: [OF. contendre, L. contendere, -tentum; con- + tendere to strech. See Tend.]

1. To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight. For never two such kingdoms did content Without much fall of blood. Shak. The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle. Deut. ii. 9. In ambitious strength I did Contend against thy valor. Shak.

2. To struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend. You sit above, and see vain men below Contend for what you only can bestow. Dryden.

3. To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue. The question which our author would contend for. Locke. Many things he fiercely contended about were trivial. Dr. H. More.

Syn. — To struggle; fight; combat; vie; strive; oppose; emulate; contest; litigate; dispute; debate.

CONTEND Con*tend", v. t.

Defn: To struggle for; to contest. [R.] Carthage shall contend the world with Rome.Dryden.

CONTENDENT Con*tend"ent, n. Etym: [L. contendens, p.pr.]

Defn: n antagonist; a contestant. [Obs.] In all notable changes and revolutions the contendents have been still made a prey to the third party. L'Estrange.

CONTENDER Con*tend"er, n.

Defn: One who contends; a contestant.

CONTENDRESS Con*tend"ress, n.

Defn: A female contestant. [R.]

CONTENEMENT Con*ten"e*ment, n. Etym: [Pref. con- + tenemnt.] (Law)

Defn: That which is held together with another thing; that which is connected with a tenetment, or thing holden, as a certin quantity of land a Burrill.

CONTENT Con*tent, a. Etym: [F. content, fr. L. contentus, p.p. of contenire to hold together, restrain. See Contain.]

Defn: Contained within limits; hence, having the desires limited by that which one has; not disposed to repine or grumble; satisfied; contented; at rest. Having food rainment, let us be therewith content. 1 Tim. vi. 8.

CONTENT Con"tent ( or ; 277), n.; usually in pl., Contents.

1. That which is contained; the thing or things held by a receptacle or included within specified limits; as, the contents of a cask or bale or of a room; the contents of a book. I shall prove these writings . . . authentic, and the contents true, and worthy of a divine original. Grew.

2. Power of containing; capacity; extent; size. [Obs.] Strong ship's, of great content. Bacon.

3. (Geom.)

Defn: Area or quantity of space or matter contained within certain limits; as, solid contents; superficial contents. The geometrical content, figure, and situation of all the lands of a kingdom. Graunt. Table of contents, or Contents, a table or list of topics in a book, showing their order and the place where they may be found: a summary.

CONTENT Con*tent", v. t. Etym: [F. contenter, LL. contentare, fr. L. contentus, p.p. See Content, a.]

1. To satisfy the desires of; to make easy in any situation; to appease or quiet; to gratify; to please. Do not content yourselves with obscure and confused ideas, where clearer are to be attained. I. Watts. Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them. Mark xv. 15.

2. To satisfy the expectations of; to pay; to requite. Come the next Sabbath, and I will content you. Shak.

Syn. — To satisfy; appease; plese. See Satiate.

CONTENT Con*tent", n.

1. Rest or quietness of the mind in one's present condition; freedom from discontent; satisfaction; contentment; moderate happiness. Such is the fullness of my heart's content. Shak.

2. Acquiescence without examination. [Obs.] The sense they humbly take upon content. Pope.

3. That which contents or satisfies; that which if attained would make one happy. So will I in England work your grace's full content. Shak.

4. (Eng. House of Lords)

Defn: An expression of assent to a bill or motion; an affirmate vote; also, a member who votes "Content.". Supposing the number of "Contents" and "Not contents" strictly equal in number and consequence.Burke.

CONTENTATION Con`ten*ta"tion, n. Etym: [LL. contentatio.]

Defn: Content; satisfaction. [Obs.] Bacon.

CONTENTED Con*tent"ed, a.

Defn: Content; easy in mind; satisfied; quiet; willing. — Con*tent"ed*ly, adv. — Con*tent"ed*ness, n.

CONTENTFUL Con*tent"ful, a.

Defn: Full of content. [Obs.] Barrow.

CONTENTION Con*ten"tion, n. Etym: [F. contention, L. contentio. See Contend.]

1. A violent effort or struggle to obtain, or to resist, something; contest; strife. I would my arcontenion. Shak.

2. Strife in words; controversy; altercation quarrel; dispute; as, a bone of contention. Contentions and strivings about the law. Titus iii. 9.

3. Vehemence of endeavor; eagerness; ardor; zeal. An end . . . worthy our utmost contenion to obtain. Rogers.

4. A point maintained in an argument, or a line of argument taken in its support; the subject matter of discussion of strife; a position taken or contended for. All men seem agreed what is to be done; the contention is how the subject is to be divided and defined. Bagehot. This was my original contention, and I still maintain that you should abide by your former decision. Jowett.

Syn. — Struggle; strife; contest; quarrel; combat; conflict; feud; litigation; controversy; dissension; variance; disagreement; debate; competition; emulation. — Contention, Strife. A struggle between two parties is the idea common to these two words. Strife is a struggle for mastery; contention is a struggle for the possession of some desired object, or the accomplishment of some favorite end. Neither of the words is necessairly used in a bad sense, since there may be a generous strife or contention between two friends as to which shall incur danger or submit to sacrifices. Ordinarily, however, these words denote a struggle arising from bad passions. In that case, strife usually springs from a quarrelsome temper, and contention from, a selfish spirit which seeks its own aggrandizement, or is fearful lest others should obtain too such. Strife has more reference to the manner than to the object of a struggle, while contention takes more account of the end to be gained.

CONTENTIOUS Con*ten"tious, a. Etym: [L. contentiosus: cf. F. contentieux.]

1. Fond of contention; given to angry debate; provoking dispute or contention; quarrelsome. Despotic and contentious temper. Macaulay.

2. Relating to contention or strife; involving or characterized by contention. Spenser. More cheerfull; though not less contentious, regions. Brougham.

3. (Law)

Defn: Contested; litigated; litigious; having power to decide controversy. Contentious jurisdiction (Eng. Eccl. Law), jurisdiction over matters in controversy between parties, in contradistinction to voluntary jurisdiction, or that exercised upon matters not opposed or controverted.

Syn. — Quarrelsome; pugnacious; dissentious; wrangling; litigious; perverse; peevish. - Con*ten"tious*ly, adv. — Con*ten"tious*ness, n.

CONTENTLESS Con*tent"less, a. Etym: [Content + -less.]

Defn: Discontented; dissatisfied. [R.] Shak.

CONTENTLY Con*tent"ly, adv.

Defn: In a contented manner. [Obs.]

CONTENTMENT Con*tent"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. contentement. See Content, v. t.]

1. The state of being contented or satisfied; content. Contentment without external honor is humility. Grew. Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Tim. vi. 6.

2. The act or process of contenting or satisfying; as, the contentment of avarice is impossible.

3. Gratification; pleasure; satisfaction. [Obs.] At Paris the prince spent one whole day to give his mind some contentment in viewing of a famous city. Sir H. Wotton.

CONTENTS Con*tents ( or ; 277), n. pl.

Defn: See Content, n.

CONTERMINABLE Con*ter"mi*na*ble, a.

Defn: Having the same bounds; terminating at the same time or place; conterminous. Love and life not conterminable. Sir H. Wotton.

CONTERMINAL Con*ter"mi*nal, a. Etym: [LL. conterminalis.]

Defn: Conterminous.

CONTERMINANT Con*ter"mi*nant, a.

Defn: Having the same limits; ending at the same time; conterminous. Lamb.

CONTERMINATE Con*ter"mi*nate, a. Etym: [L. conterminare to border upon, fr. conterminus conterminous; con- + terminus border.]

Defn: Having the same bounds; conterminous. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

CONTERMINOUS Con*ter"mi*nous, a. Etym: [L. conterminus. Cf. Conterminous.]

Defn: Having the same bounds, or limits; bordering upon; contiguous. This conformed so many of them as were conterminous to the colonies and garrisons, to the Roman laws. Sir M. Hale.

CONTERRANEAN; CONTERRANEOUS Con`ter*ra"ne*an, Con`ter*ra"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. conterraneus; con- + terra country.]

Defn: Of or belonging to the same country. Howell.

CONTESSERATION Con*tes`ser*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. contesseratio, from contesserare to contract friendship by means of the tesserae (friendship tokens).]

Defn: An assemblage; a collection; harmonious union. [Obs.] That person of his [George Herbert], which afforded so unusual a contesseration of elegancies. Oley.

CONTEST Con*test", v. t. [imp. & p.p. Contested; p.pr. & vb.n. Contesting.] Etym: [F. contester, fr. L. contestari to call to witness, contestari litem to introduce a lawsuit by calling witnesses, to bring an action; con- + testari to be a witness, testic witness. See Testify.]

1. To make a subject of dispute, contention, litigation, or emulation; to contend for; to call in question; to controvert; to oppose; to dispute. The people . . . contested not what was done. Locke. Few philosophical aphorisms have been more frequenty repeated, few more contested than this. J. D. Morell.

2. To strive earnestly to hold or maintain; to struggle to defend; as, the troops contested every inch of ground.

3. (Law)

Defn: To make a subject of litigation; to defend, as a suit; to dispute or resist; as a claim, by course of law; to controvert. To contest an election. (Polit.) (a) To strive to be elected. (b) To dispute the declared result of an election.

Syn. — To dispute; controvert; debate; litigate; oppose; argue; contend.

CONTEST Con*test", v. i.

Defn: To engage in contention, or emulation; to contend; to strive; to vie; to emulate; — followed usually by with. The difficulty of an argument adds to the pleasure of contesting with in, when there are hopes of victory. Bp. Burnet. Of man, who dares in pomp with Jove contest Pope.

CONTEST Con"test, n.

1. Earnest dispute; strife in argument; controversy; debate; altercation. Leave all noisy contests, all immodest clamors and brawling language. I. Watts.

2. Earnest struggle for superiority, victory, defense, etc.; competition; emulation; strife in arms; conflict; combat; encounter. The late battle had, in effect, been a contest between one usurper and another. Hallam. It was fully expected that the contest there would be long and fierce. Macaulay.